DESIGNER ASIA
MEET THE REGION’S LEADING ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS WHO CREATE WHERE WE EAT, SIEEP AND PLAY
ANYONE who has travelled the world will vouch for the fact that many of Asia’s bars, restaurants, hotels and even shopping malls stand out in a league of their own. For some, the traditional teak Lanna-style setting of a hotel such as the Four Seasons Chiang Mai might seize their imagination; while others are dazzled by the likes of the ultra-modern white interiors of Bed Supperclub, Bangkok.
Whatever your taste, the region is filled with a range of exciting exteriors and interesting interiors spanning centuries of creativity – from the crumbling walls of Angkor’s temples to the sparkling new façade of Siam Paragon Bangkok.
We talk to a number of leading architects and interior designers to learn more about their work and views.
ML Pawinee Santisiri has won a host of awards for her interior design on a range of prominent hotels and private residences, as well as her decorative water hyacinth products available at Yothaka International and Ayodhya lifestyle stores.
On her work: For each type of work, the elements and inspirations are different. When designing in an Oriental style for Panta Shop, for example, I borrow the raised floor, columns and simple elements from Thai and Chinese architecture; while my water hyacinth work is defined by the unique but low-tech capability of the handicraft done by local Thai workers. On design in Asia: I know I’m not alone in feeling that it is among the best. Just see how many Wonders of the World are in Asia – the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in Agra, and the Temple of Angkor in Cambodia…
On her favourite buildings: The Grand Palace’s Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok and Bang-Pa-In Summer Palace in Ayuthaya, where our national heritage mixes Thai and European elements. The new Suvarnabhumi International Airport also has a very interesting design with Oriental Thai architectural elements.
Duangrit Bunnag of Duangrit Bunnag Architect Ltd (DBALP) is responsible for a number of acclaimed buildings in Thailand, including Bangkok’s TCDC (Thailand Creative and Design Centre), Costa Lanta hotel and a new “small but great restaurant project” – The Pier, at Fisherman’s Village in Bophut, Koh Samui.
On his work: Nature has always been a huge influence. Modern simplicity is my theoretical structure, my faith, my belief.
I believe that this works better with the simplicity of the nature than complex over-themed designs.
Designing a “creative” space such as the TCDC is always a challenge. There’s a risk of disaster if you have not been thoughtful enough. It needed a design that would inspire creative visitors to come up with new ideas. I used space and materiality to provide the right environment.
On design in Asia: I think the best thing is its diversity. As a region, we believe in heterogeneous coherence and multiple truths; we might worship different gods, but we all eat rice. This philosophy allows Asian design to achieve greater possibilities and produce the unexpected.
On his favourite buildings: I always love visiting Costa Lanta on Koh Lanta Yai off Thailand’s south coast – such a stunning setting. In Bangkok, it’s a shop called It’s Happen to Be a Closet: Nero on Khao San Road. It’s like a woman’s closet inside, but with great food, lovely hospitality and the best foot massage in the world.
Architect Andre Fu is one half of AFSO’s young founding duo whose work can be seen in venues across London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing – including the chic OPIA restaurant and lounge of JIA Hong Kong. In 2005, Fu was named by Travel & Leisure magazine as “Designer-of-the-Moment”.
On his work: Our design philosophy is to generate optimum layout in terms of function, and apply pattern and intense colour to the resulting surfaces, blending clarity with playfulness in architecture.
At the OPIA restaurant, I sought to transcend the passion of chef Teage Ezard’s freestyle cuisine. Using a palette of deep lilac, crimson orange and ivory, I drew inspiration from the sensual pattern of ripples to accent the dining room.
On design in Asia: With our experiences and knowledge about the East and West, we are working with highly affluent clients who share a similar exposure and passion for design. This dynamic and rhythm allows us to produce some of the most unique designs.
On his favourite buildings: For Hong Kong, it’s the ’60s vintage cafe Goldfinch Restaurant in Causeway Bay where the film In the Mood for Love was shot. Its spirit is very much in keeping with old Hong Kong’s spirit – patterned wallpaper, low-level wall-lamps and smooth leathered banquette booths that remain from many years before.
As regional co-ordinator for a hip and trendy Bangkok design company
Be Gray, Phuket-based Malida Vaidyanuvatti believes “everybody in this world is a designer”. She specialises in southern Thai-style resorts and contemporary Thai architecture. Her recent work includes The Taste, a stylish 12-room Bed & Breakfast and music café converted from a century-old Sino-Portuguese building in Old Phuket Town.
On her work: For any project that I undertake, the entire team’s ideas are key to the overall inspiration and design. For example, the idea of using Thai-style thatched-roofing at Sri Lanta Resort on Koh Lanta in Krabi province was that of our construction labourer from Isaan in Northeast Thailand. In essence, he was the real designer.
On design in Asia: The heart of Asian design is to respect both traditional culture and the natural environment. Unique designs in this region are inspired by and blend harmoniously into nature.
On her favourite buildings: Angkor Wat, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I like the way people thought in the past; the way they plotted from the foundation to the entrance, the doors and the windows. Everything must exist with reason and follows the movement of the earth, sun and moon – the essentials to all mankind.
Bangkok-based Carl Almeida is the Australian partner of P49 Deesign, Thailand’s largest design firm, whose work can be seen all over the world. Recent projects in the region range from the diffusion D2 hotel in Chiang Mai to the trendy Trisara in Phuket.
On his work: No matter where our projects are, we try and retain an “essence” of that region within an international design. We do this by incorporating local patterns, materials and textures as well as the inclusion of local artwork.
Our inspiration on the project in Phuket was based on the Sanskrit word “Trisara” – which means “Third Garden in Heaven” – along with its associated philosophy of a place of relaxation, mediation and solitude. The goal was to create all this within a sophisticated and luxurious environment.
On design in Asia: Asia’s unique style incorporates the philosophy of the region’s culture – balance. Design-wise, this is achieved through mixing smooth forms with materials that have great texture, shadow with light, solid with void, and dark colours with pale hues. The result is harmony!
On his favourite buildings: I love Old Phuket Town with its beautiful old buildings and Chinese-inspired heritage. Old monuments in Bagan – such as Ananda Temple, and Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon – are also incredible and “must-sees” when visiting Myanmar!
Yoshihisa Hirayama of gram Design created the interesting interiors of Hiroshima’s Green Coffee shop near Hijiyama Park. At present, he is working on a café that will open on the historic island of Miyajiama’s Machiya Street within an old remodelled Japanese house.
On his work: The inspiration for the café comes from the simplicity of the spaces that are so characteristic of Japan’s traditional houses and outhouses from ages past, such as doma earthen floors. A key element is the unaffected strength expressed through the texture of very simple things such as walls built from nothing but dirt – the most basic of all materials – and aged wooden floors.
On design in Asia: I don’t think that design in any particular part of the world can be singled out as being the best. There is so much notable work on display, each with its own uniqueness.
On his favourite buildings: The Kenzo Tange-designed Hiroshima Peace Centre is impressive, particularly the Peace Memorial Museum raised up onto modern Le Corbusier-style pillars that face the memorial. I am always struck by the sight of the A-bomb Dome, cenotaph and museum, all connected along a single axis.
It is such a powerful design.
Gary Fell of GFAB is the architect behind some of Cambodia’s top new builds, which includes the chic FCC Angkor, and Palms Resort and Spa (under construction). Samujana Residences, Koh Samui and Mangosteen Suites, Phuket, are also among the practice’s other exciting new regional developments.
On his work: My key inspiration is the site itself. Naturally, one tries to absorb and reflect something of the culture of a region or place, but I would never resort to pastiche, such as whimsical adoptions of traditional forms. This is condescending to the culture of my practice, and I certainly refuse to have any part in the continuing Disney-fication of the region.
On design in Asia: Undoubtedly, Asian design is improving all the time, and I believe this is fuelled by the dynamism of the region’s cultures.
On his favourite buildings: The structure’s “heroism”, along with the organisation’s clarity, makes the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh one of Asia’s truly “stand-out” buildings. I appreciate the way the architect, Vann Molyvann used the Angkor complex as inspiration whilst producing a wholly contemporary design.
Colin Seah is the architecturally-trained Design Director of Ministry of Design, a spatial design practice that “seeks to disturb, question and redefine”. Hu’u
Bar in Bangkok and the New Majestic Hotel in Singapore are just two examples among MOD’s award-winning work.
On his work: I try to make my designs both historically grounded and contemporary in vision, idiosyncratic in its response to the local environment and yet universally attuned to the global nomad. I believe good space has the power to transform the banal into the poetic, the everyday into the sublime.
On design in Asia: For design to be truly first-class and hold universal appeal, it needs to draw from an authentic source of inspiration. We are particularly blessed in Asia that these sources exist in so many places, and in varying shapes and forms.
On his favourite buildings: Raffles Hotel, Singapore, is great for its sheer grandeur yet comfortable scale, semi-outdoor courtyard and terrace spaces as well as the iconic quality it has for Singapore. H1 in Bangkok is also a favourite as an urban oasis, providing respite from the bustle of the city. I like the surprising way it unfolds from courtyard to building, and that each establishment within offers something unique.
Apisake Painupong is senior designer of dwp cityspace who has creatively transformed a number of Bangkok offices, shops, bars and restaurants. These include the State Tower’s soon-to-open Breeze and Conrad Bangkok’s Bar87+ and Italianate, for which he won a place as a finalist in the Hospitality Design Awards 2006 in New York.
On his work: For Bar87+ and Italianate, the main concept is heat and intimacy.
We took the curve of a lady’s shape to create a dynamic space with movement, adding star-like lights for romantic moments.
For Breeze, we wanted to create a dramatic, sophisticated environment. Features include a back-lit glass bridge, with waterfall cascading from its edges, and a grand staircase through to the outdoor dining terrace on Level 51.
My inspirations are derived from everything and everywhere, but my boss, Scott Whittaker is a huge influence. His unique ideas always strike the right balance between creativity, functionality as well as client satisfaction.
On design in Asia: Being down-to-earth, exotic, and proportionately relating to human scale, the natural aesthetic of Asian design offers a different feeling from the West. It is not necessarily better, but it is an alternative, in the way that different artworks wait to be seen in an art museum, yet all are invaluable.
On his favourite buildings: I am always impressed with the elegant Thai style, excellent proportion and rhythm of the columns in The Sukhothai Bangkok’s lobby area and La Scala restaurant. Another fun place is Playground! on Thonglor, where you can find items from both local and international designers. Inside, you feel like a kid in a big toystore!
China’s Cheng Chung Design (HK) Ltd specialises in interior design for international brand hotels, super malls and office towers. Founding designer, Cheng Chung has worked to create the right look for dozens of major projects across China, including the stylish Sofitel On Remin Square in Xi’an and Shenzhen CITIC City Plaza.
On his work: My work is generally inspired by nature’s beauty, but at the Sofitel On Renmin Square in Xi’an, this integrated the cultural tradition of an ancient city that has been the capital of six dynasties of old China.
On design in Asia: Among the seven continents of the world, Asia is unique with regards to its culture, customs and traditions. Asian designers tend to combine these elements together with international design and creativity to form their own style.
On his favourite buildings: Shenzhen CITIC City Plaza. It is one of the biggest luxury shopping malls in southern China and has become a landmark in Shenzhen. Both its architectural structure and interior design are modern, glamorous and unique.
It’s no wonder Vichada Phongsathorn was listed in Elle Décor Magazine (Thailand) as one of Southeast Asia’s up-and-coming young designers. Not only was this young lady responsible for the total design concept of two luxury resorts – Rayavadee in Krabi and The Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai, the talented Thai beauty also co-owns home textile company, Beyond Living, and opened The Quattro boutique of collectibles in Bangkok last year.
On her work: For both properties, I derive my inspiration from the beauty of the natural surroundings, the culture and the history of their locations. All furnishings and accessories have been chosen with great care for their natural materials and craftsmanship. Handmade pieces and motifs from nature dominate.
On design in Asia: Although you might say I am biased, I do consider Asian design among the best in the world. It exudes a haven of peace and serenity closely depicting the region’s true culture, while also possessing a uniqueness and originality with which I identify.
On her favourite buildings: The ancient kingdom of Sukhothai abounds with senses of simple yet powerful beauty. The ruins embody an aura of grace and tranquillity.
At two of the city’s most stylish small hotels – Tamarind Village and The Rachamankha – Chiang Mai’s visitors can see the ingenious workmanship of Thai architect Ongard Satrabhandu, both borrowing heavily from traditional local design traditions.
On his work: In every project, we always go back to basics and keep the design simple yet refined, with an emphasis on discovery, not invention. Nothing in our projects is entirely new; we believe that one should not reject a good design solution just because it has been done before.
On design in Asia: China’s architecture is living proof that it is among the best in the world. Well-defined open spaces or courtyards were there as early as 3,000 years ago and, in many ways, more important than the solid buildings that enclosed them. According to Laozi, the great Chinese philosopher, “The visible creates material form: the invisible gives it value.”
On his favourite buildings: Because of its clear architectural language, the Neilson Hays Library in Bangkok still holds its own since it was built 80 years ago. For a small building, the well-proportioned interior is quite grand, with attention given to detail.
American-born Bill Bensley is the founding director of Bensley Design Studios (BDS) and one of Asia’s busiest architects, creating both beautiful buildings and landscaped gardens. His recent work encompasses the super-stylish Hotel de la Paix, Siem Reap, and a number of Four Seasons projects, including new properties in Samui and Hangzhou.
On his work: Being true to the cultural environment in which we are building is integral to our design philosophy. For example, in Hangzhou, we don’t use a Balinese style. We don’t just build Chinese either; we build Hangzhou Chinese.
On design in Asia: Asian design is among the best in the world because they still work with their hands and know how to make beautiful art. Common sense reigns as opposed to the Western “sue, sue, sue” mentality, which frees us to do better work. Southeast Asia also has the most intense architectural diversity in a small area.
On his favourite buildings: I like Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. The temple features ancient ficus trees, with their roots slowly but surely tearing apart one of man’s greatest architectural feats – a salute to the fact that all things return to the earth eventually.
CONTACT DETAILS
AFSO, tel +852 2523-6998 email@afso.com, www.afso. com; Ayodhya Trade Ltd, tel +66 (0)2 679-8521, email ayodhya@loxinfo.co.th; Be Gray, tel +66 (0)2 661-5460, email jakaryn@begray.com, www.begray.com; Bensley Design Studios, tel +66 (0)2 381-6305, email bensley@ mozart.inet.co.th, www.bensley.com; Beyond Living, tel +66 (0)2 714-3109, email marketing@beyond-living.com, www.beyond-living.com; Cheng Chung Design (HK), tel +86 (755) 8211-6917, email asiantime@vip.163.com, www.china-asian.com; Duangrit Bunnag Architect Ltd (DBALP), tel +66 (0)2 2658-0580, email duangrit@ loxinfo.co.th; dwp cityspace, tel +66(0)2 267-3939, email thailand@dwppartnership.com, www.dwpartnership.com; GFAB, tel +62 (361) 723195, email gfab@gfabarchitects. com, www.gfabarchitects.com; MOD, tel +65 6221-3559, email studio@modonline.com, www.modonline.com; Ong-ard Architects, tel +66 (0)53 904111, email ongard@rachamankha.com; PANTA (Siam Discovery) tel +66 (0)2 658-0415, email panta1@loxinfo.co.th; P49 Deesign & Associates Co. Ltd., tel +66 (0)2 652-2900, email p49dsign@loxinfo.co.th, www.p49deesign.com; gram Design, tel +81 (82) 247-0749, email g-hirayama@lake. ocn.ne.jp; The Quattro, tel +66 (0)2 712-5822; Yothaka International, tel +66 (0)2 679-8631, www.yothaka.com
